Changes in Flood Response of the Red River of the North Basin, North Dakota-Minnesota

Abstract:

The magnitude and frequency of large floods that have
occurred in recent years in the basin of the Red River of the
North have caused concern that land-use changes and man-
made drainage have increased flooding. This study was under-
taken to determine whether any changes in flood response of the
basin could be documented. A review of the hydrologic setting,
previous floods, flood-control measures, and probable effects
of land-use changes shows that the flooding problem of the Red
River basin is complex hydrologically, highly variable histori-
cally, and follows a regional pattern. Therefore, a change in
flood response of the basin is difficult to identify. The flood-
frequency, normalized-hydrograph, double-mass, and regres-
sion analyses show little indication of significant change in
flood response of the Red River basin at locations on the main
stem. However, the large variation in flood discharges may
mask or dwarf small changes in response.

Description:

Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey. Online document found at http://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/2243/report.pdf